Items to be Considered for Fiscal Year 2017 Budget

Initial weighted unit funding for low-income and students at risk

If funding is not available to implement HB 117 and HB 30 statewide, the state should fund
an initial weighted unit funding program to support all schools within the four districts
impacted by redistricting with high concentrations of low-income students, English language
learners, and other students at risk. This initial program would be evaluated with the goal of
expanding statewide to serve, equitably, all schools with high concentrations of low-income
students, English language learners, and other students at risk in future years.
The initial program would begin in the 20162017 school year as an enhanced baseline for
school improvement before implementation statewide, and continue as recurrent funding. The
program would extend the existing needs-based unit system to create supplemental funding
for schools with high concentrations of low-income students, ELL, and other students at-risk.
Wilmington Schools Transition Fund
The transition fund would support development and initial implementation of a strategic
education plan to integrate Wilmington students into the Red Clay Consolidated School
District, and to support any needed planning and adjustments in the Brandywine School
District. The funding will be used to complete a full-scale facilities assessment of the schools
being acquired by the Red Clay Consolidated School District, develop new grade
configurations, design of transportation feeder patterns, and develop action plans to assure
that redistricting takes place in a manner that is minimally disruptive to students, parents, and
educators. Once costs are identified, funding requests for subsequent years would detail
specific needs including acquisition of materials, technology, teacher training, potential
leveling up of salaries, and transportation costs.
Fiscal Year 2017 funding also would support the identification and planning for
implementation of national best practices and new models for schools with high
concentrations of low-income students, English language learners, and other students at-risk.
Building upgrades (minor and major capital improvements)
Strengthening Wilmington education is a key strategic investment for the entire state;
redistricting is the next step to this objective. The Wilmington schools impacted by
redistricting should be eligible for 100 percent state funding for building improvements. The
epilogue within the Capital Budget could either encourage the Council on Development
Finance to fund the necessary school building improvements within the City of Wilmington
boundaries through the Strategic Fund and/or earmark an appropriation for Wilmington City
Schools Building Improvements pending a needs assessment/grade configuration study.
Property tax rate adjustments
The transition process will include a full examination of current local taxes relative to district
expenses and transitioning property assessment. While efforts will be made to ensure no
disproportionate tax burden or tax advantage goes to a district, the outcomes will not result in
an exact correlation between taxes and expenses for each district. Contingency funds, similar
to those provided under the current equalization formula, are required to supplement district
resources impacted by redistricting. These funds need to be earmarked and set aside as

assurance to the districts that the needed resource adjustments will take place upon the
implementation of redistricting.
Additionally, until property reassessment occurs, districts impacted by redistricting must be
authorized to enact tax rate adjustments to meet current operating expenses as voted by their
school boards. Annual adjustments should not exceed inflation as measured by the CPI.
Non-Redistricting Items
Increased investment in early childhood education for low-income children
The core funding from the federal early learning challenge grant needs to be replaced in order
to sustain the recent improvements in the quality of early childhood education programs
available to low-income students.
Initiation of a property tax reassessment
WEIC recommends initiation of a long-overdue process of statewide property tax
reassessment and to establish that process on a regular schedule that is in accordance with
national best practices.
Redistricting Report Outline: Section on Funding Student Success
Part VI: Funding Student Success: Resources for Redistricting
Introduction
Guiding Principles
Over-arching Issues
Types of funding: State, District, and Local Sources
Define the Fiscal Impact of District Reorganization
Resources Required to Support of Schools with High Concentrations of Low Income Students and English
Language Learners
Central Issues
Action Plan/Designated Responsibilities
Resources for Students with Disabilities
Resources Required to Support Redistricting Transition and Effective Ongoing Education of All Affected
Students: State, Federal, and Local
Central Issues
Action Plan/Designated Responsibilities
Facilities, Capital Funding, and Asset Management
Central Issues
Action Plan/Designated Responsibilities
Resources for High Quality Early Childhood Programs and College and Career Readiness
Mobilization of Resources from All Sectors
Central Issues
Action Plan/Designated Responsibilities
Other Items: Transportation, Property Tax/NCC Tax District
Initial Funding Requirements (FY2017)